Bit of background, currently a Lt in a non infantry unit. Having put my name forward for H15, H17 and 2 x OCE posts and been knocked back every time (no PID at rank for the 15 & 17 and both OCE posts went to regs) while we have had around 20 ORs deploy in role in the last 18 months. I'm left questioning the point of holding a TA commission.

I'm getting ever more pissed off with the endless training reporting and paperwork treadmill, which doesn't seem to lead anywhere and starting to seriously consider the above as an option.

Im aware it would more than likely require a change of capbadge, and involve starting from scratch but am curious whether anyone's got first hand experience.

If you transferred to the HAC you'd have to go in as a trooper I believe. Not sure if you can hold a shadow rank like with SF but it'd be easier to explain if you wanted to be commissioned again in the future rather than having to say I sacked it because I wanted to go on tour and didn't like the paperwork.

Perhaps you need to be able to bring more to the post rather than just been a 'Lt'.

Click to expand...

My civvy job is relevant and I'm fully coursed up. There is nothing more I can bring to the post, other than tour experience which I can't get. Regardless of capbadge, the paperwork burden and lack of requirement for subalterns on ops remains.

If you transferred to the HAC you'd have to go in as a trooper I believe. Not sure if you can hold a shadow rank like with SF but it'd be easier to explain if you wanted to be commissioned again in the future rather than having to say I sacked it because I wanted to go on tour and didn't like the paperwork.

Click to expand...

I don't know what a "shadow rank" is, but I meant start from scratch as in courses/ trade training and promotion. Believe me if I resigned it I'd have no intention of commissioning again

Bit of background, currently a Lt in a non infantry unit. Having put my name forward for H15, H17 and 2 x OCE posts and been knocked back every time (no PID at rank for the 15 & 17 and both OCE posts went to regs) while we have had around 20 ORs deploy in role in the last 18 months. I'm left questioning the point of holding a TA commission.

I'm getting ever more pissed off with the endless training reporting and paperwork treadmill, which doesn't seem to lead anywhere and starting to seriously consider the above as an option.

Im aware it would more than likely require a change of capbadge, and involve starting from scratch but am curious whether anyone's got first hand experience.

Typing this on my phone, so apologies if formattings not great.

Click to expand...

Go and look at the Specialist units.

Firstly they're in demand on ops because they do things the Regulars generally can't do to the same level.
Secondly, you don't get as much of the STAB/ARAB cr@p because you're usually the one who knows what they're doing and you are the acknowledged subject matter expert (though this is not always the case with the denser sort of Reg who will continue to insist that they are omniscient).
Thirdly, don't just throw your Commission away. You've worked hard for it and you are a valuable asset because of it - don't give it up just because you're currently pissed off.

In the wider scheme of things, everything's now running down towards the great exit/retreat/declaration of absolute victory in Afghanistan plus there are huge reorganisations likely which may change the game entirely. The downside is that you may spend your time looking at those with operational experience with a bit of envy (though honestly it depends on what they've done - which is usually about 20% of what they claim) but the chances are that we'll get involved somewhere again and the specialist units generally get asked for by the Regs before the rest of the TA for reasons already stated.

If you decide to stay in, I'd give it a while and see how the next 24 months develop. I resigned from the Regs because I didn't fancy flirting with alchoholism on the plains of Northern Germany while the rest of my contemporaries built interesting careers elsewhere. No sooner had I left than the Wall came down, Saddam came out to play and the Army embarked on the most challenging 20 years of its post-war existence. Take your time, have a look at all the options and don't do anything in haste. That said, if after all that you really have had enough, don't waste any more time on it and move on to pastures new.

This isn't a TA problem; it's a capbadge problem. The OP has got the wrong one. A Lt in my mob still gets to "career manage" old gits like me, but has a choice of quality holiday destinations that should satisfy even the most picky.

Oh, and if the OP isn't a scaley I'd like to apologise right now to everyone in the TA R Sigs for assuming that he was.